Virus

Gov. Gavin Newsom told CNN's Jake Tapper during a fly-fishing interview that closing California beaches during the COVID-19 pandemic was "insane" in hindsight, adding that "everyone's a genius in hindsight." The remark revisits one of the most contentious episodes of his pandemic response, when Los Angeles-area beaches were shut in 2020 and authorities cracked down on violators, including the arrest of a paddleboarder in Malibu.

Newsom also acknowledged that major California school districts took too long to reopen classrooms, and again called his November 2020 dinner at the French Laundry restaurant, attended without a mask amid his own public health guidance, "boneheaded." Critics have long cited that dinner, along with extended school, church, and business closures, as evidence of inconsistency in his pandemic leadership. The comments come as speculation grows over a possible 2028 presidential run, drawing renewed scrutiny to his COVID-era record as he positions himself ahead of a potential national campaign.